Jess Whitehead
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I’m a qualified Integrative Counsellor, available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday daytimes in person in Stroud or online, from anywhere. I offer Tuesday evenings online.
Life can sometimes feel overwhelming. You may be facing any combination of relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, stress, low self esteem, trauma and loss. Perhaps you're feeling stuck and unsure where to turn, or are struggling to value yourself. Compassionate and open-minded professional support can help bring clarity to see your way through your challenges.
The right therapist for you?
Making the decision to start counselling can be daunting and quite exciting. I look forward to working with you, if you feel I could be the right counsellor for you. I am open-minded and you won't be judged or criticised as we explore your life experiences, challenges and hopes for the future. Therapy can support you to truly reconnect to yourself and others, through talking, listening, tuning into what is happening in our bodies and looking at what changes feel manageable for you in your relationships and life choices.
How I work
When we work together, your well-being and experience are the most important things to me. I listen to, respect and cherish your uniqueness, explore what is contributing to your discomfort and how you would like to live. I am curious, compassionate and responsive to your needs.
Therapy is a collaborative process and the relationship we create can be crucial in helping to understand what’s challenging you, what relationship patterns may no longer work for you, and explore how you would like to live more authentically. I trust that you have the knowledge within you and I would be honoured to support you to reconnect deeply with yourself and the important people in your life.
Whatever your challenges, I offer an empathic, non-judgmental and supportive space. Being person-centred and trauma-informed, I value your whole self and what you choose to bring to our sessions, working at your pace. Our childhood relationships and experiences can shape our ongoing understanding of ourselves and the world, so in sessions we may explore links between your past and present. Exploring your experiences in the moment with me can help you to better understand how you relate to the world. I have a particular interest in how we process experiences through our bodies, so I pay attention to what is happening on a sensory level for both of us.
Your sessions
Sessions take place weekly for 50 minutes and we can work on an open-ended basis, or shorter term (6 to 12 sessions) if you prefer. If you are only able to make fortnightly sessions, we can certainly discuss this but I'd always recommend starting with weekly sessions.
You have a choice of how we meet - face to face in a confidential and comfortable counselling room, outside walking therapy where you benefit from movement and being in nature, or online video sessions which can take place anywhere. I will be as flexible as possible in providing the setting you prefer. I do offer some concessionary sessions.
Making contact with me
If you feel we would be a good fit, I'd love to hear from you. Please email me through the directory - I will always get back to you. Do check your spam folder if you've emailed, as replies can get lost there.
We can arrange a short phone or Zoom call before the first assessment session if you'd like that. I offer this free of charge, to briefly explore what brings you to therapy, your hopes, fears and questions. If you'd then like to go ahead, we would arrange a 50-80 minute initial assessment session at a time that works for us both.
At the assessment session we would get a feel for whether we'd like to work together, to understand what is happening for you and how your need for counselling may relate to your background and life experiences. It is very much a two-way process - you also have space to consider whether I am the right therapist for you. This session is a reduced rate of £50.
Training, qualifications & experience
My experience
I'm experienced working with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, relational trauma, stress, low self-worth, abuse and loss.
Alongside my private practice, I provide low-cost counselling at The Listening Post in Stroud, having previously worked at Help Counselling and the Minster Centre’s Psychotherapy and Counselling Service in London. I have previous career experience advocating for vulnerable people in need of support from public services.
My training
I hold a BACP-accredited Diploma in Integrative Counselling from the Minster Centre (September 2020), a leading integrative therapy training institute. I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches (person-centred, embodiment, relational, humanistic, psychodynamic, attachment, existential) to understand links between your past and present and what changes you may wish to make in order to live more authentically and enjoy better relationships. One size certainly doesn't fit all and so I adapt the way I work to your unique needs.
I am always developing my practice and am undergoing further training in Body Psychotherapy.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£55.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My fees are £55 per session, paid weekly or monthly, but I have a small number of concessionary sessions, so please ask me about this if money is a concern for you.
The assessment session fee is £50.
When I work
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I offer daytime sessions in person or online, and some Tuesday evening sessions online. Working online as well as face to face means there is more scope for flexibililty about when we meet.
Further information
Supervision and ongoing training
As a registered member of BACP, I adhere to its Ethical Framework and Professional Occupational Standards, including continuing my professional development and undertaking regular supervision and training. I am undergoing further training in Body Psychotherapy.
